Comments on Open thread: The Weeks in ReviewTypePad2013-12-12T21:04:17ZEric Zornhttp://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/tag:typepad.com,2003:http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2013/12/wir/comments/atom.xml/MOPerina commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e201a3fa8d0489970b2013-12-16T19:58:11Z2013-12-16T19:58:11ZMOPerinaThanks Eric for Wendy's contact info.<p>Thanks Eric for Wendy&#39;s contact info. </p>DaveB commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b0317979a970d2013-12-16T17:51:02Z2013-12-16T17:51:02ZDaveBGarry, I shop there mostly for toiletry supplies. Same shaving cream, etc. that I can get at Walgreen's or CVS,...<p>Garry, I shop there mostly for toiletry supplies. Same shaving cream, etc. that I can get at Walgreen&#39;s or CVS, but much cheaper. I stock up.</p>Garry commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b0314123d970c2013-12-16T15:08:33Z2013-12-16T15:08:33ZGarry@DaveB: I go to one every 3 months for the $10 prescriptions.<p>@DaveB: I go to one every 3 months for the $10 prescriptions.</p>DaveB commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e201a3fa881802970b2013-12-16T14:34:59Z2013-12-16T14:34:59ZDaveB--Garry, I don't think you've darkened the door of a Wal-Mart for a while.<p>--Garry, I don&#39;t think you&#39;ve darkened the door of a Wal-Mart for a while.</p>Garry commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b030b1b23970d2013-12-16T01:45:46Z2013-12-16T01:45:46ZGarry@DaveB: Walmart doesn't provide "decent-quality goods at affordable prices". It sells Chinese made crap at low prices. The same Chinese...<p>@DaveB: Walmart doesn&#39;t provide &quot;decent-quality goods at affordable prices&quot;. It sells Chinese made crap at low prices. The same Chinese made crap that was well made goods made in the USA before Wally World demanded lower &amp; lower prices from its suppliers, which forced them to move production to China, where it was cheapened so the shipping costs would be low &amp; it became the low quality, low priced crap from China.<br />
If a supplier refused to ship production to China, Wally World cut them off &amp; them illegally coped the product in China &amp; forced the original supplier into liquidation!</p>Greg J. commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b03051510970d2013-12-15T18:11:21Z2013-12-15T18:11:21ZGreg J.And at the 10:37 mark in the first quarter, the Cutler-McCown QB controversy is officially on and ugly. Who had...<p>And at the 10:37 mark in the first quarter, the Cutler-McCown QB controversy is officially on and ugly.</p>
<p>Who had 10:37 in the pool? Pay that man.</p>Wendy C commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b0301a148970c2013-12-15T15:03:33Z2013-12-15T15:03:33ZWendy C@MOPerina, I've sent the e-mail; I hope Eric will forward it to you when he gets the chance. ZORN REPLY...<p>@MOPerina,</p>
<p>I&#39;ve sent the e-mail; I hope Eric will forward it to you when he gets the chance.</p>
<p>ZORN REPLY -- done!</p>MOPerina commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02f817b9970d2013-12-15T01:55:01Z2013-12-15T01:55:01ZMOPerinaThanks Wendy. Much appreciated in advance!<p>Thanks Wendy. Much appreciated in advance!</p>Wendy C commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02f498f3970d2013-12-14T22:34:18Z2013-12-14T22:34:18ZWendy C@MOPerina, Though I am not an expert in the field, I would be interested in your proposal. Technology factors into...<p>@MOPerina,</p>
<p>Though I am not an expert in the field, I would be interested in your proposal. Technology factors into current and future curriculum, though the purpose behind this push into computer-based education revolves around improving test scores at this time. If we want our students to be successful in a diverse world, we need to stop the &quot;one size fits all&quot; approach to education based on passing a particular test, nothing more.</p>
<p>If you like, I will ask Eric to send you my e-mail address, so you may attach the draft of your proposal. I can&#39;t promise insightful feedback, but would be happy to give you my opinion. Please remember my background is exclusively Special Education services.</p>Greg J. commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02f3c998970d2013-12-14T21:48:27Z2013-12-14T21:48:27ZGreg J.@jpn, I see what you mean now. Walker removed funding for Planned Parenthood, which led some facilities to close. If...<p>@jpn,</p>
<p>I see what you mean now. Walker removed funding for Planned Parenthood, which led some facilities to close. If Planned Parenthood couldn&#39;t operate at break-even without state welfare, it deserved to be closed. Wisconsin already gave it a tax break due to its non-profit status, which is generous enough. You should be blaming its management instead just as we blame management for any for-profit or not-for-profit business that can&#39;t sustain itself. Also, I still don&#39;t see what that has to do with restricting access. Anyone who wants those services can still pay for them. It appears that Wisconsin taxpayers can&#39;t afford to provide those services to those who can&#39;t afford to pay for them. That may be a tough result for some but these are tough times. Most of us taxpayers feel like we already give far too much. Maybe it&#39;s time for the government to spend responsibly and more efficiently before it asks us for any more. </p>MOPerina commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02f2257a970c2013-12-14T21:09:23Z2013-12-14T21:09:23ZMOPerina@ Wendy... if you don't mind and you have a little time to read and respond.... I read the article...<p>@ Wendy... if you don&#39;t mind and you have a little time to read and respond.... I read the article you recommended about education. I am in the process of suggesting a huge change and improvements to my Kids school with regards. To technology. I would love your feedback on my draft of the proposal to the board. I want to follow the article&#39;s suggestions. I had been mulling this for some time and now is the tome to act. I want to teach them software development along the lines in the article.</p>Barry3 commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02e8fa14970c2013-12-14T13:23:57Z2013-12-14T13:23:59ZBarry3http://profile.typepad.com/6p019b007110a6970dAny concern among the COS posters, and especially the host, about the limited access that the Obama White House is...<p>Any concern among the COS posters, and especially the host, about the limited access that the Obama White House is granting outside photographers? The only photographs of White House activities come from official WH photographer Peter Souza (a former Trib photographer I believe)</p>
<p>Not sure if anything violates First Amendment since limiting access is not the same as supressing, but it sure does violate that transparency claim.</p>DaveB commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02dde202970d2013-12-14T04:10:44Z2013-12-14T04:10:44ZDaveBYes, that f***ing Walmart provides a lot of low-income folks access to decent-quality goods at affordable prices. The nerve of...<p>Yes, that f***ing Walmart provides a lot of low-income folks access to decent-quality goods at affordable prices. The nerve of them! How dare they! There ought to be a law!</p>Barry3 commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02db1757970d2013-12-14T02:11:06Z2013-12-14T02:11:08ZBarry3http://profile.typepad.com/6p019b007110a6970dLizH, "Medicare has low administrative costs, around 4%" - That's because much of Medicare's administrative costs are buried in other...<p>LizH,</p>
<p>&quot;Medicare has low administrative costs, around 4%&quot; - That&#39;s because much of Medicare&#39;s administrative costs are buried in other departments. For example, the revenue collection for Medicare is done within the IRS.</p>
<p><a href="http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2012/09/medicare-overhead-costs.html" rel="nofollow">http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2012/09/medicare-overhead-costs.html</a></p>
<p>&quot;My WI friends HATE Walker, especially those who 1) are unemployed but can&#39;t get BadgerCare because there are quotas, teachers, and anyone who has kids in school there.&quot; Do you Illinois unemployed friends love Quinn? My Wisconsin friends love Walker.</p>
<p>BruceL,</p>
<p>&quot;F%@k Walmart!!!&quot; - What are your feelings towards Target or K-Mart?</p>Barry3 commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d9c80a970c2013-12-14T01:57:00Z2013-12-14T01:57:02ZBarry3http://profile.typepad.com/6p019b007110a6970d"All of this is laying the groundwork for a conversion to some kine of modified single-payer system which is cheaper...<p>&quot;All of this is laying the groundwork for a conversion to some kine of modified single-payer system which is cheaper elsewhere and delivers good results.&quot; This and a man carrying a baby. Which comes first EZ?</p>jpn commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d8c3d2970d2013-12-14T00:27:38Z2013-12-14T00:27:38ZjpnGreg: "I don't think any fiscal conservative, including myself and I presume Gov. Walker, would want to limit anyone's access...<p>Greg: &quot;I don&#39;t think any fiscal conservative, including myself and I presume Gov. Walker, would want to limit anyone&#39;s access to health care.&quot;</p>
<p>Well, that&#39;s just false. Gov. Walker has actively promoted policies and signed legislation that forced the shuttering of clinics that serve those WI wives, mothers, sisters, daughters. Thanks, directly, to his actions, those wives, mothers, sisters and daughters in WI have less medical options, they have less access to cervical cancer screenings, to breast cancer screenings, to pap smears. </p>
<p>As many say: you&#39;re entitled to your opinion, but facts are, ya know, facts and when you try to pretend otherwise, well, not you, of course, but other people who do that look pretty stupid. </p>Greg J. commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d8293c970b2013-12-14T00:23:55Z2013-12-14T00:23:55ZGreg J.@Edge of the 14th Ward, Off the top of my head, counting only mayors in decent-sized cities, I'd go with...<p>@Edge of the 14th Ward, </p>
<p>Off the top of my head, counting only mayors in decent-sized cities, I&#39;d go with Steve Goldsmith, Bret Schundler, Mia Love, Pat McCrory, and Rudy Giuliani. Of course New York City missed out on the greatest mayoral candidate of all time in 1965 (still within your 50 year window there). </p>
<p>Jack Kemp may be the best urban policy expert we&#39;ve ever had. There has to be some kind of honorable mention for Frank Rizzo whose policies and ethics were sometimes found wanting but he knew how to deal with troublemakers.</p>
<p>I completely agree with you that it&#39;s mostly about efficiency and not politics though.</p>
<p>@LizH,<br />
@Bruce L.,</p>
<p>First paragraph, last sentence, &quot;pro using&quot; = &quot;providing.&quot; Getting used to a new phone.</p>Wendy C commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d82e03970d2013-12-14T00:01:08Z2013-12-14T00:01:08ZWendy CThis is the best freaking article I've read about the direction education needs to take in the future! http://www.chicagotribune.com/site/ct--teach-job-education-plan-chicago-skills-1213-20131213,0,3073039.story<p>This is the best freaking article I&#39;ve read about the direction education needs to take in the future!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/site/ct--teach-job-education-plan-chicago-skills-1213-20131213,0,3073039.story" rel="nofollow">http://www.chicagotribune.com/site/ct--teach-job-education-plan-chicago-skills-1213-20131213,0,3073039.story</a></p>Greg J. commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d6e539970c2013-12-13T23:47:51Z2013-12-13T23:47:51ZGreg J.@LizH, @Bruce L., Do you have any evidence to suggest that Wal-Mart is paying it's employees less than the marginal...<p>@LizH,<br />
@Bruce L.,</p>
<p>Do you have any evidence to suggest that Wal-Mart is paying it&#39;s employees less than the marginal product of their labor (colloquially, less than they are worth)? If not, I don&#39;t understand why your complaint is with Wal-Mart. Your complaint should be with the employees themselves if they could get higher-paying jobs or find other ways to stay above the poverty line. Your complaint should be with the government if it is pro using welfare to people who are getting by. </p>
<p>What if the employees are making below poverty wages in the only jobs they can find, are otherwise making wise financial decisions, and the government is only making up the difference between those wages and a minimum standard of living? The system would be working as it should. My guess is that it&#39;s not, however, and we need to find ways to cut spending and reduce unnecessary dependence on the government. </p>JerryB commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d6b3af970c2013-12-13T23:39:46Z2013-12-13T23:39:46ZJerryBEDGE: I am not an expert on NYC. Never been there. But I would say Bloomberg. BTW --do not hold...<p>EDGE:</p>
<p>I am not an expert on NYC. Never been there. But I would say Bloomberg.</p>
<p>BTW --do not hold your breath for Dienne to give specifics. But if she does -- you should be the one to debate her since </p>
<p>-- you seem to know what you are talking about; <br />
-- and since I think she hates me.</p>JerryB commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d6f99d970b2013-12-13T23:31:14Z2013-12-13T23:31:14ZJerryBLizh: Where I live in Chicago -- Rogers Park -- small businesses are closing down but those in contiguous suburbs...<p>Lizh:</p>
<p>Where I live in Chicago -- Rogers Park -- small businesses are closing down but those in contiguous suburbs are thriving -- especially Evanston and Skokie.</p>
<p>I agree when Edge says above --</p>
<p>[One would also hope that a &quot;business friendly&quot; conservative mayor would streamline and/or otherwise improve our God-awful business licensing and zoning processes.]</p>Edge of the 14th Ward commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d76d43970d2013-12-13T23:27:36Z2013-12-13T23:27:36ZEdge of the 14th Ward@Dienne: Just to be clear, I wasn't arguing that Rahm was liberal or that a Republican mayor would be substantially...<p>@Dienne: Just to be clear, I wasn&#39;t arguing that Rahm was liberal or that a Republican mayor would be substantially different. Regarding the points of possible differentiation that I listed, I would classify them as either symbolic, limited in scope, or a matter of degree, the exceptions being fire/police spending (which Republicans favor) and spending on roads/housing (which Democrats favor). It will be interesting to see how Bill de Blasio governs New York City, and if he actually strives to put liberal urban policies into place, or if La Guardia&#39;s notion that there is no ideological way to collect trash proves to be correct.</p>
<p>&quot;[If Rahm were liberal] he&#39;d be helping poor (black) people stay in their neighborhoods with genuine neighborhood improvement programs...&quot;</p>
<p>I&#39;m curious - can you go into a bit more detail about what said &quot;neighborhood improvement programs&quot; would look like? Would it be a matter of opening more of the &quot;libraries, mental health facilities, and schools&quot; that you cite, or something else in addition to those things? What would a liberal mayor do to attract commerce to depleted neighborhoods, or to encourage residents to open businesses? How would a liberal mayor tackle public safety? Segregation? Poverty? Affordable housing? Taxes?</p>
<p>I ask these questions because I&#39;m interested in fleshing out what liberal urban policies look like, and because I think there are meaningful distinctions to be made between how Dienne&#39;s vision of a liberal mayor would govern vs. how, say, Greg J&#39;s vision of a conservative mayor would govern, even if the practical realities of making sure the trash gets picked up would bring both of those mayors closer together than one might imagine.</p>
<p>P.S. For conservatives, I&#39;d still love to know which mayors (if any) fit the bill as &quot;conservative.&quot; Who do you point to as a shining example of conservative urban policy, either today or at any point in, say, the past 50 years? There has to be *one* person in *one* city in these entire United States that you can champion, right? Anyone? Bueller?</p>JerryB commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d65ba6970c2013-12-13T23:24:39Z2013-12-13T23:24:39ZJerryBLizH: Link to the UIC study if you will. In the long run -- business begets more business. I do...<p>LizH:</p>
<p>Link to the UIC study if you will.</p>
<p>In the long run -- business begets more business. I do not know about that particular Walmart. But a few major retailors in a shopping center anchor other smaller businesses.</p>
<p>Perhaps some mom and pop retailors are put out of business. But there would be a welcome environment for other small businesses to open near the Walmart -- restaurants, hair and beautify, auto, etc.</p>
<p>Further I am pretty sure a person employed at minimum wage cost the government less than one on welfare. Plus if they are busy working -- they have less time for mischief.</p>Bruce L. commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d656ef970b2013-12-13T23:03:33Z2013-12-13T23:03:33ZBruce L."5) Remove most obstacles to entry of new businesses (especially small businesses) to Chicago. Walmart stores should be welcomed with...<p>&quot;5) Remove most obstacles to entry of new businesses (especially small businesses) to Chicago. Walmart stores should be welcomed with open arms.&quot;</p>
<p>Um, but aren&#39;t those two things mutually exclusive?!? Small business die when Walmart comes to town...</p>
<p>F%@k Walmart!!!</p>
<p><br />
Have a nice weekend all!</p>LizH commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d5fa84970b2013-12-13T22:48:49Z2013-12-13T22:48:49ZLizHWhat about me, JerryB, I live in the city, and pay high property taxes due to living in Edison Park?...<p>What about me, JerryB, I live in the city, and pay high property taxes due to living in Edison Park? How about I get to spend my money the way I want to? Like for neighborhood (NOT charter) schools, libraries, etc. Imagine if all children had a safe, warm home to go to, and a good school. I bet that they would all do much better in school, maybe get a good job, and not be a burden to all like the Wal-mart workers. A couple of things I read - 1) UIC, I think, did a study of one of the Wal-Marts that opened on the S Side. The Wal-mart in question created 320 jobs, and 300 jobs were lost in the area due to the typical Wal-Mart undercutting of prices. And since Wal-Mart pays on the average 28% less than the other jobs in the area, income fell. And the typical Wal-Mart costs the state $1 million in services. EACH store. While the 5(6?) Waltons have wealth equal to around 40% of the bottom 95% of earners, and don&#39;t pay any income tax in this state, and that costs us because the employees barely owe any tax on their meager incomes, we have to pay them to keep above the poverty level. </p>
<p>Personally, I am tired of subsidizing the Walton&#39;s &amp; other billionaire CEOs lavish lifestyles. And I have a belief in the people of the state, that if they had any kind of a chance (the aforementioned good schools, and enough to eat &amp; a safe place to live), they would indeed - most of them, anyway - make something of themselves &amp; become income tax payers in IL, so I didn&#39;t have to pay higher taxes to help them stay afloat.</p>JerryB commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d4b81b970b2013-12-13T21:52:39Z2013-12-13T21:52:39ZJerryBDienne: I live in Chicago. I pay Chicago taxes . You do not live in Chicago. I do not want...<p>Dienne:</p>
<p>I live in Chicago. I pay Chicago taxes . You do not live in Chicago. I do not want a major part of my family&#39;s savings and income to go for what you want.</p>
<p>You are playing Robin Hood with my money. Typical lefty.</p>JerryB commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d49a5b970b2013-12-13T21:47:40Z2013-12-13T21:47:40ZJerryBDienne: And later you posted: [ No, Eric is not racist for believing his view of events. He is racist...<p>Dienne:</p>
<p>And later you posted:</p>
<p>[ No, Eric is not racist for believing his view of events. He is racist for telling blacks what they can and can&#39;t be outraged about. He&#39;s further racist if he tries to pretend that this case would have come out the same had the races been reversed.Posted by: Dienne | Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 08:50 AM ]<br />
</p>JerryB commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d400cc970c2013-12-13T21:41:41Z2013-12-13T21:41:41ZJerryBDienne: See the last sentence of this comment. I have deleted Zorn's Reply: [Sigh. So now not only is your...<p>Dienne:</p>
<p>See the last sentence of this comment. I have deleted Zorn&#39;s Reply:</p>
<p>[Sigh. So now not only is your version of this case the only correct version (as proven by the jury - yeah for you!), but you&#39;re going to go telling people what they can and can&#39;t be outraged by?</p>
<p>I&#39;ll ask you again, Eric, do you know any black people (preferably poor or working class people - &quot;those kind&quot; of black people) well enough to talk to them about this case? Or let me rephrase that, do you know any black people well enough to *listen* to them about this case? You&#39;ve done plenty of talking already, it&#39;s listening that you&#39;ve been rather weak on.</p>
<p>All the known facts of this case pretty much go against Zimmerman. He was armed, Martin was not. Martin was minding his own business walking home when Zimmerman chose to get out of his truck and follow him. Zimmerman assumed him to be one of &quot;these a--holes&quot; who &quot;always get away with it&quot; and a f---ing [punk/coon/whatever]&quot;. Martin ended up dead, Zimmerman is alive.</p>
<p>In order to find Zimmerman innocent, you have to believe all the unknown details in Zimmerman&#39;s favor. You have to believe that Martin attacked Zimmerman and that Martin was seriously beating him to the point that his life was in danger. There is some evidence for that - Zimmerman&#39;s slightly broken nose and his little owie on his head. But mostly the &quot;evidence&quot; for all of that comes from Zimmerman&#39;s story which has repeatedly shifted and Zimmerman has lied about many things. In other words, to find Zimmerman innocent you have to believe the word of a proven liar that Martin acted criminally. Martin never got a trial before he was executed for the heinous crime of walking home on a rainy night.</p>
<p>The only way this verdict is possible is because of Florida&#39;s SYG/self-defense laws as JakeH discussed above. In any sane society (again, I&#39;ll admit ours is not), self-defense should be treated like any other affirmative defense - the burden of proof should switch to the defense to prove it (albeit to a lower standard of proof). Otherwise, we have to default to believing the killer in any unwitnessed killing.</p>
<p>But even with Florida&#39;s laws as they are, do you think the outcome would have been the same had the races been reversed? Or if Martin had gotten the gun away from Zimmerman and shot him? Can you really say with a straight face that a black man who killed a white/Hispanic teenager would have walked free? If you can even pretend that that would be the case, you suffer from the same blindness and structural racism (if not individual racism) as the antebellum South.</p>
<p>Sorry, Eric, but you don&#39;t get to decide what this case is about. This case has layers of meaning deeply embedded in our country&#39;s troubled racist past. Meanings such as the relative worth of black vs. white life, the trustworthiness of blacks vs. whites, the &quot;place&quot; of black people (clearly they don&#39;t belong in gated communities), the inherent threat of black manhood, etc.</p>
<p>I can only suggest again that you do some deep reading on the subject (two more suggestions, both written by white men, so maybe you&#39;ll be able to connect: SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE BLACK by Tanner Colby and BLACK LIKE ME by John Howard Griffin) and that you make an honest effort to reach out and truly listen to the perspective of a diverse cross-section of the black population. Otherwise, you&#39;ll continue to sound more and more like the racist right-wingers you&#39;ve previously claimed contempt for.</p>
<p> <br />
Posted by: Dienne | Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 06:00 AM ]<br />
</p>Greg J. commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d37f39970d2013-12-13T20:38:33Z2013-12-13T20:38:33ZGreg J.@jpn, I don't think any fiscal conservative, including myself and I presume Gov. Walker, would want to limit anyone's access...<p>@jpn,</p>
<p>I don&#39;t think any fiscal conservative, including myself and I presume Gov. Walker, would want to limit anyone&#39;s access to health care. By all means, everyone should have the freedom to buy and sell any services that are legal. It sounds like the problem is that the state of Wisconsin can&#39;t afford to provide the services you cited for free and Walker is merely acknowledging that reality through his actions. I wish you a good weekend too.</p>Dienne commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d36473970d2013-12-13T20:33:37Z2013-12-13T20:33:37ZDienne"If Chicago had a Republican mayor, he or she would follow Republican doctrine exactly: they would cut taxes on the...<p>&quot;If Chicago had a Republican mayor, he or she would follow Republican doctrine exactly: they would cut taxes on the 1% while slashing the programs that serve the poor and lower middle classes. Oh, and continue to hand out no-bid contracts to their friends for consulting jobs and studies.&quot;</p>
<p>Cripes, BC, that&#39;s Rahm in a nutshell. Where have you been? Besides JerryB says he voted for Rahm and would again over any Republican. &#39;Nuff said.</p>
<p>As for if Rahm were actually liberal what would he be doing differently, the answer is pretty much everything. He&#39;d be supporting public education. He&#39;d be opening rather than closing libraries, mental health facilities and schools. He&#39;d be helping poor (black) people stay in their neighborhoods with genuine neighborhood improvement programs rather than driving them out by destroying their neighborhoods and then investing in them after the poor blacks are out (to the benefit of his rich white banker/hedge fund friends).</p>
<p>Bike lanes are hardly an indication that one is liberal and even gay marriage is becoming a conservative thing. I haven&#39;t seen any &quot;overtures&quot; to illegal immigrants and casinos are a bipartisan affair - both parties are all in favor of anything that takes money from the poor and funnels it into rich pockets.</p>
<p>As far as Eric and racism, I don&#39;t think I&#39;ve ever called Eric a racist (please go prove me wrong, Jerry, since you seem to have every one of my comments saved). What I&#39;ve said is that Eric is blind to his institutional/structural racism. I stand by that and I&#39;ve explained the difference before. I don&#39;t expect to see Eric running around in a white hood and I have no doubt that he consciously harbors no ill feelings about blacks. But, Eric hit the jackpot in terms of benefiting from privilege as a straight, affluent, white male. The more one benefits from privilege, the less one is able to see the effects of that privilege and the more one is likely to assume that one&#39;s success is a product of one&#39;s own virtue and other&#39;s lack of success is a product of their lack of virtue.</p>jpn commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d2e39d970d2013-12-13T20:11:44Z2013-12-13T20:11:44ZjpnGreg, apology accepted. I didn't write about "alleged" health care restrictions, I wrote about real ones. Ones that limit women's...<p>Greg, apology accepted. I didn&#39;t write about &quot;alleged&quot; health care restrictions, I wrote about real ones. Ones that limit women&#39;s choices to, and access to, things like pap smears and cervical cancer tests, breast cancer tests, etc., over and above the medically-unnecessary ultrasounds you so blithely dismiss as &quot;alleged.&quot; Some of the women affected are real Wisconsin mothers, wives, sisters, daughters. If you don&#39;t see why those policies make sensible folks wary of &quot;fiscal conservatives&quot; then really, we have little enough to say to each other. I will say this to you though:</p>
<p>Have a grand weekend. </p>Greg J. commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d18961970c2013-12-13T19:56:12Z2013-12-13T19:56:12ZGreg J.@jpn, You wrote about alleged health care restrictions disapprovingly, which led me to infer that you were talking about the...<p>@jpn,</p>
<p>You wrote about alleged health care restrictions disapprovingly, which led me to infer that you were talking about the abortion bill and you didn&#39;t like it. If I jumped to conclusions about either, I regret the error. It&#39;s amazing that Walker is criticized as insufficiently fiscally conservative for requiring an extra sonogram when you have so many governors expanding Medicaid, increasing taxes, and creating state health exchanges. I disagree with Walker&#39;s signing that bill but let&#39;s have some sense of proportionality in our criticisms is all I&#39;m asking.</p>
<p>@BC,</p>
<p>That Medicare giveaway is good for states in the short-term only as the agreement allows the feds to stop picking up the bill in the near future. It&#39;s bad in the long run as states have to fund the expansion. It goes without saying that it&#39;s all-around terrible for taxpayers. </p>
<p>It&#39;s possible to temporarily look good by spending money you don&#39;t have. Fiscal responsibility pays off in the long run, however.</p>LizH commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d25e73970d2013-12-13T19:50:10Z2013-12-13T19:50:10ZLizHMedicare has low administrative costs, around 4%, and many happy recipients (including the "get your govt hands off my Medicare"...<p>Medicare has low administrative costs, around 4%, and many happy recipients (including the &quot;get your govt hands off my Medicare&quot; crowd). My mom always had her choice of Drs and as good treatment as possible (in her condition). Between Medicare &amp; her Blue Cross Med Supp policy, there were no outstanding bills in spite of her being in and out of the hospital in Jan &amp; Feb 2010, then hospice care at home (the actual hospice functions paid by Medicare, the home nursing paid by her) until she passed away 5/2010. Their fraud rate, though it gets talked up, is around the same as the &quot;private&quot; companies, 10%, but there have been at least a couple of huge cases in the past few years uncovering hundreds of millions of $$ in fraud, usually overbilling by doctors or testing facilities.</p>
<p>Of course, Medicare administration is actually done by private insurance companies who are paid as a TPA by the govt. Still, it&#39;s quite efficient, and, like I said, most people are very happy with it.</p>
<p>My WI friends HATE Walker, especially those who 1) are unemployed but can&#39;t get BadgerCare because there are quotas, teachers, and anyone who has kids in school there. </p>Jimmy G commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d1e0e1970b2013-12-13T19:49:33Z2013-12-13T19:49:33ZJimmy G@jpn, "You're missing my point - possibly deliberately? Who knows...? His social conservatism is what is off-putting to many, in...<p>@jpn,</p>
<p>&quot;You&#39;re missing my point - possibly deliberately? Who knows...?<br />
His social conservatism is what is off-putting to many, in WI and elsewhere.&quot;</p>
<p>It seems as if you are obsessed with pelvic issues. You reject Walker&#39;s fiscal conservatism because he is also a social conservative. </p>BPost commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d185ff970d2013-12-13T19:15:03Z2013-12-13T19:15:03ZBPostA cheesehead thanks BC. jpn - I agree, there is no such thing as a fiscal conservative, certainly not amongst...<p>A cheesehead thanks BC. </p>
<p>jpn - I agree, there is no such thing as a fiscal conservative, certainly not amongst the R&#39;s. </p>jpn commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d07b51970b2013-12-13T18:49:17Z2013-12-13T18:49:17ZjpnGreg: "I'll agree with you that the abortion bill signed by Walker is a bad one." You can agree with...<p>Greg: &quot;I&#39;ll agree with you that the abortion bill signed by Walker is a bad one.&quot;</p>
<p>You can agree with your own statement, but I didn&#39;t make that claim. I merely made the point that this &quot;fiscal conservative&quot; was actually a true-blue social conservative promoting bills and policies in IL&#39;s neighbor state that restrict women&#39;s health-care choices. Voters here at home see that and, rightly or wrongly, consider their own &quot;fiscal conservative&quot; electoral options warily. </p>
<p>It appears that you want to discuss *abortion* and not any of the points I made. So have at it. But not with me. </p>BC commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d000ac970c2013-12-13T18:48:54Z2013-12-13T18:48:54ZBCScott Walker's Wisconsin is getting creamed when compared to neighbor Minnesota: "Three years into Mr. Walker’s term, Wisconsin lags behind...<p>Scott Walker&#39;s Wisconsin is getting creamed when compared to neighbor Minnesota:</p>
<p>&quot;Three years into Mr. Walker’s term, Wisconsin lags behind Minnesota in job creation and economic growth. As a candidate, Mr. Walker promised to produce 250,000 private-sector jobs in his first term, but a year before the next election that number is less than 90,000. Wisconsin ranks 34th for job growth....</p>
<p>Along with California, Minnesota is the fifth fastest growing state economy, with private-sector job growth exceeding pre-recession levels. Forbes rates Minnesota as the eighth best state for business....</p>
<p>The lion’s share of Minnesota’s new tax revenue was sunk into human capital. While the state’s Constitution required that half of the new revenue balance the budget in 2013, Mr. Dayton invested 71 percent of the remaining funds in K-12 schools and higher education as well as a pair of firsts: all-day kindergarten and wider access to early childhood education. Minnesota was one of the few states that raised education spending under the cloud of the Great Recession. </p>
<p>By contrast, Mr. Walker’s strategy limited Wisconsin’s ability to invest in infrastructure that would have catalyzed private-sector expansion, and he cut state funding of K-12 schools by more than 15 percent. Per student, this was the seventh sharpest decline in the country.</p>
<p>Health care presents another difference. When Mr. Walker refused to establish a state health insurance exchange or to expand Medicaid...</p>
<p>Mr. Dayton is on course to improve Minnesota’s already low uninsured rate. He expanded Medicaid to cover an additional 35,000 people and accepted Washington’s offer to pick up the cost — as half the states, including a growing number with Republican governors, have. Mr. Dayton also created a state insurance exchange, which enrolled more than 90 percent of its first month’s target.&quot;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2013/11/scott-walkers-wisconsin-vs-daytons-minnesota-which-doing-better" rel="nofollow">http://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2013/11/scott-walkers-wisconsin-vs-daytons-minnesota-which-doing-better</a></p>
<p><br />
</p>BC commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02d063fa970b2013-12-13T18:45:18Z2013-12-13T18:45:18ZBCIf Chicago had a Republican mayor, he or she would follow Republican doctrine exactly: they would cut taxes on the...<p>If Chicago had a Republican mayor, he or she would follow Republican doctrine exactly: they would cut taxes on the 1% while slashing the programs that serve the poor and lower middle classes. Oh, and continue to hand out no-bid contracts to their friends for consulting jobs and studies.<br />
</p>AReader commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02cfaff9970c2013-12-13T18:36:08Z2013-12-13T18:36:08ZAReaderGotta agree with GregJ on the single-payer issue. Even if it were 100% factually proven, beyond any reasonable doubt, that...<p>Gotta agree with GregJ on the single-payer issue. Even if it were 100% factually proven, beyond any reasonable doubt, that such a system would bring down costs and provide equal or better outcomes, a fairly large percentage of Americans and their elected representatives would disregard such facts in favor of their ideology and scream &quot;socialism&quot; at the top of their lungs until the plan died. </p>Dr X commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02cf9980970c2013-12-13T18:32:18Z2013-12-13T18:32:18ZDr XAnyone else read about the teen who shot himself in the head while handcuffed behind his back and seated in...<p>Anyone else read about the teen who shot himself in the head while handcuffed behind his back and seated in the back of a Durham, NC police car? And that was after he was searched and it was determined that he had no weapon.</p>
<p>The police chief said that this isn&#39;t common, but it has happened before. He said that non-law enforcement people don&#39;t understand it. I suppose he&#39;s right.</p>
<p> <a href="http://www.wnct.com/story/24195816/durham-police-chief-teen-died-of-gunshot-wound-to-the-head" rel="nofollow">http://www.wnct.com/story/24195816/durham-police-chief-teen-died-of-gunshot-wound-to-the-head</a></p>Greg J. commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02cff45a970d2013-12-13T18:05:20Z2013-12-13T18:05:20ZGreg J.Anyone still think it would have been a good idea to help remove Assad in Syria? http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/12/12/US-backed-Syrian-rebel-commander-flees-country/UPI-96541386829631/. Yeah, yeah, Idris...<p>Anyone still think it would have been a good idea to help remove Assad in Syria? <a href="http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/12/12/US-backed-Syrian-rebel-commander-flees-country/UPI-96541386829631/." rel="nofollow">http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/12/12/US-backed-Syrian-rebel-commander-flees-country/UPI-96541386829631/.</a></p>
<p>Yeah, yeah, Idris denies fleeing but he kind of had to in order to keep any kind of morale going among pro-western rebels (and maybe that should be &quot;pro-western&quot;). Now that the islamists have kicked the other rebels out of their own headquarters, the only person tough enough to take them on is Assad. If I have to choose between the brutal religious fanatic and the brutal secular dictator, give me the dictator I guess.</p>
<p>When are we going to realize that there are rarely any good choices in the middle east? We need to get American troops out of there and only bring them back when there is a direct threat to us. Sure, there is dirty work that needs to be done to assess threats but that&#39;s why we need a strong CIA. We do not need conventional forces on the ground to fight a most unconventional battle.</p>
<p>@jpn,</p>
<p>I&#39;ll agree with you that the abortion bill signed by Walker is a bad one. As evil as abortion is, creating more government intervention in health care isn&#39;t the way to solve it. Politically, this probably doesn&#39;t matter or helps Walker a little. Anyone who votes against a candidate based on his being anti-abortion is already in the anti-Walker camp. Most of the true undecideds are voting on fiscal issues.</p>
<p>@JerryB,</p>
<p>&quot;As a practical matter I assert that if “single payer” was a difficult “sell” back when ObamaCare was passed – it is now as near impossible sell for the following reasons –&quot;</p>
<p>I wholeheartedly agree and defy anyone who disagrees to tell me how you are going to get more government involvement in health care, i.e., single-payer, when: (a) the roll-out for this more modest government involvement has thus far been a colossal failure; (b) no one in Washington agrees on anything and the sides are actually getting farther apart. </p>
<p>Obama had all the stars align for him and barely got ObamaCare through Congress, and even then the Supreme Court put a ticking time bomb in it. Tell me again, how an even more radical plan passes the House and Senate, and survives court challenges? Single payer is a fantasy, my friends.</p>jpn commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02ce2537970c2013-12-13T17:13:50Z2013-12-13T17:13:50Zjpn"He busted the public employee unions, something that absolutely has to be done to save Illinois. " You're missing my...<p>&quot;He busted the public employee unions, something that absolutely has to be done to save Illinois. &quot;</p>
<p>You&#39;re missing my point - possibly deliberately? Who knows...?</p>
<p>His social conservatism is what is off-putting to many, in WI and elsewhere. He ran and won as a supposedly fiscal conservative and now look, he&#39;s restricting health-care services for women, services that are available here in IL. That, happening in neighboring states, concerns many IL voters. Their fear is that the same thing can happen here: elect a fiscal conservative and suddenly many health-care services for our wives, our sisters, our daughters, those services are not available any more.</p>
<p>Believe me: Scott Walker doesn&#39;t help the case for real fiscal conservatives here in IL. Assuming one can find any. Only chumps believe that current IL GOP leaders any anything except different flavors of the weak sauce we&#39;ve been sampling for the last decade. </p>JerryB commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02cf0484970d2013-12-13T17:06:28Z2013-12-13T17:06:28ZJerryBWith respect to healthcare reform Zorn just asserted –[ All of this is laying the groundwork for a conversion to...<p>With respect to healthcare reform Zorn just asserted –[ All of this is laying the groundwork for a conversion to some kind of modified single-payer system which is cheaper elsewhere and delivers good results.]</p>
<p>Let us defer the question of whether -- in the abstract -- this is the best type of system.</p>
<p>As a practical matter I assert that if “single payer” was a difficult “sell” back when ObamaCare was passed – it is now as near impossible sell for the following reasons –</p>
<p>1) Our President Obama is a lying scoundrel on matters of healthcare reform and will not be able to sell anything.</p>
<p>2) Single payer will mean everyone will get the same healthcare – translated – the same mediocre health care.</p>
<p>3) Mammograms, PSA prostate tests, etc. only when the government says so.</p>
<p>4) No choice of doctor.</p>
<p>5) All healthcare will devolve to the level of Cook County aka Stroger Hospital.</p>Jimmy G commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02cdf6cb970c2013-12-13T16:56:38Z2013-12-13T16:56:38ZJimmy G@jpn, "Scott Walker? The guy who just signed a bunch of new restrictions on women's health care in WI? He's...<p>@jpn,</p>
<p>&quot;Scott Walker? The guy who just signed a bunch of new restrictions on women&#39;s health care in WI? He&#39;s not a fiscal conservative,&quot;</p>
<p>He busted the public employee unions, something that absolutely has to be done to save Illinois. That alone might not save it but it would be a start.</p>Jimmy G commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02cedbd3970d2013-12-13T16:51:15Z2013-12-13T16:51:15ZJimmy G@Dienne and jlp, Rahm is fasting until illegal immigrants get amnesty. (well, actually only for one day). Is that not...<p>@Dienne and jlp,</p>
<p>Rahm is fasting until illegal immigrants get amnesty. (well, actually only for one day). Is that not liberal enough for you?</p>JerryB commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02cec6da970d2013-12-13T16:43:18Z2013-12-13T16:43:18ZJerryB--Edge & Dienne: I composed my comment before reading yours. Using a normal metric – I assume you are left...<p>--Edge &amp; Dienne:</p>
<p>I composed my comment before reading yours. Using a normal metric – I assume you are left of center and I am right of center. Thus it is interesting how much we agree.</p>
<p>After reading your comment, I have a new thought.</p>
<p>I voted for Emanuel and would vote for him again over any Republican. Here is my thinking.</p>
<p>I have no problem attributing totally self-serving motives to Emanuel – he wants Chicago to “work” so that he can run on this record of success to become the POTUS. </p>
<p>A Republican mayor would carry the baggage of being a Republican—thus providing too much additional ammo* to liberal/progressive interests. Mayor Emanuel provides a much more oblique target* to the liberals/progressives. Liberals/progressives merely discredit themselves by calling our mayor a “racist.”</p>
<p>(*Sorry for using military metaphors – no violence implied.)<br />
</p>jpn commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02cdd29e970c2013-12-13T16:42:45Z2013-12-13T16:42:45Zjpn"Do you think Illinois will ever follow the example of other broke blue states and elect a Scott Walker or...<p>&quot;Do you think Illinois will ever follow the example of other broke blue states and elect a Scott Walker or a Chris Christie?&quot;</p>
<p>I don&#39;t know, Jimmy. A true fiscal conservative, perhaps? (I don&#39;t share our host&#39;s optimism over Rauner, who owns a cheap wristwatch and several multi-million dollars homes. </p>
<p>I&#39;ve admired Christie for his efforts on behalf of his constituents, which of course made him a pariah in the GOP and got him dis-invited from CPAC.</p>
<p>Scott Walker? The guy who just signed a bunch of new restrictions on women&#39;s health care in WI? He&#39;s not a fiscal conservative, he&#39;s a social conservative. People like him, visible for everyone to see in neighboring states, make it harder, not easier, for genuine IL fiscal conservatives to advance their policies.</p>
<p>Plus, let&#39;s get real: all of the supposedly fiscally conservative leaders of the IL GOP voted AGAINST the recent pension reform bill. Cross. Dillard. As the Trib pointed out earlier this week, if ONLY the GOP had voted on the pension reform bill, it would have lost, 40-25. <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-republican-pension-reform-edit-1211-20131211,0,193814.story" rel="nofollow">http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-republican-pension-reform-edit-1211-20131211,0,193814.story</a></p>
<p>So, yeah, </p>
<p>I don&#39;t know which of these fiscally &quot;conservative&quot; phonies you&#39;re talking about, but I don&#39;t see how it&#39;ll matter all that much for IL&#39;s trajectory. </p>JerryB commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02ce94ab970d2013-12-13T16:23:31Z2013-12-13T16:23:31ZJerryBDienne: Trying to make sense of your many posts on the subject of our mayor – I see the problem....<p>Dienne:</p>
<p>Trying to make sense of your many posts on the subject of our mayor – I see the problem. The problem is one of scaling. What is your scale used to define liberal and conservative?</p>
<p>I often use the analogy of a 100 yard football field to define the mainstream. In my opinion you are far left of the mainstream. If the mainstream is located in Soldier Field – you are in Evanston.</p>
<p>But I have asked you where you place yourself on this football field. My request was greeted with profanity.</p>
<p>Of course if you place yourself near the fifty yard line -- then our mayor – the first chief of staff to our President Obama-- will be right of center. But then again you were the one that called our Eric Zorn a RACIST. </p>
<p><br />
Of course a Republican mayor would be constrained by the Democratic city council. But assuming that a Republican mayor had free reign he should do the following:</p>
<p>1) Over a period of several years phase in a voucher program so that Chicago’s school children have the choice of traditional public school, charter school, and a private school education;</p>
<p>2) Ask the state and the federal governments for all possible help to police Chicago’s South and West Sides to ensure safe living conditions for the residents of Chicago. If the General Petraus surge could bring peace to Bagdad – the same can be done for Chicago.</p>
<p>3) Strike down all affirmative action laws in awarding city contracts. </p>
<p>4) Seek legislation in Springfield to neuter public employee union bargain rights on all matters except safety issues.</p>
<p>5) Remove most obstacles to entry of new businesses (especially small businesses) to Chicago. Walmart stores should be welcomed with open arms.<br />
</p>Edge of the 14th Ward commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02ce7c5a970d2013-12-13T16:13:47Z2013-12-13T16:13:47ZEdge of the 14th Ward@Dienne: "What, specifically, would a Republican/conservative mayor be doing differently than Emanuel is doing?" Probably a lot of the things...<p>@Dienne: &quot;What, specifically, would a Republican/conservative mayor be doing differently than Emanuel is doing?&quot;</p>
<p>Probably a lot of the things that bug conservatives (bike lanes, benefits for same-sex couples, overtures to undocumented families, pushing for a casino) would go by the wayside. I&#39;m not sure how CPS policy would differ, if at all. It&#39;s possible a Republican mayor would favor vouchers over charters, but there are plenty of Democrats who feel the same way. Given the political pressures facing a (presumably narrowly elected) Republican mayor, I doubt that person would have been able to shut down 50 schools, at least not in one fell swoop. I suspect there would be a more urgent push to replace city workers with independent contractors, and perhaps more of a push to sell off city assets such as Midway Airport (although Democrats got the ball rolling on those deals). Depending on the mandate, a conservative mayor might push to privatize entire city departments. An idealist might dismantle (or at least make more transparent) the TIF infrastructure, but let&#39;s be honest...it&#39;s just too tempting a pile of money for City Hall to let go of. One would hope that a fiscally conservative mayor would not be so quick to issue bonds to cover short-term spending gaps. One would also hope that a &quot;business friendly&quot; conservative mayor would streamline and/or otherwise improve our God-awful business licensing and zoning processes.</p>
<p>So...what *actually* happens when Republicans are in charge of City Hall? In cities that do elect Republican mayors, it seems like the major differences are with regards to public safety. Republicans** tend to spend more on police and fire whereas Democrats tend to spend more on roads and housing. Republicans tend to favor sales taxes whereas Democrats tend to favor property taxes (by slight margins in both cases). Republicans tend to collect slightly more tax revenue that is slightly more evenly distributed among city residents. &quot;Chicago Magazine&quot; links to a comprehensive study on the topic:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/March-2013/What-Would-a-Republican-Mayor-Mean-for-Chicago/" rel="nofollow">http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/March-2013/What-Would-a-Republican-Mayor-Mean-for-Chicago/</a></p>
<p>What I found interesting here (aside from the relative lack of partisan contrast) was the extent to which a mayor&#39;s hands are tied by state and federal funding, and the directives that go with it. Seems as if the true political challenge facing a 21st century mayor is not negotiating with his City Council, but rather negotiating with his State Legislature, Congress, and various federal departments (or with an Emergency Manager, in the case of Detroit). If many of the important decisions are made elsewhere, then mayors (and city dwellers) end up focusing on things like e-cigarettes.</p>
<p>Now, if you care to indulge the question...what, specifically, would a liberal/progressive mayor be doing differently than Emanuel is doing?</p>
<p>** I get the feeling that conservatives would reject most big city Republican mayors as insufficiently pure. Are there any big city *conservative* mayors that those on the right would like to champion? Any City Hall-based Reagans (past or present) that you can point to and say, &quot;This is what a true conservative mayor looks like?&quot;</p>Jimmy G commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02cd0c3f970c2013-12-13T15:27:34Z2013-12-13T15:27:34ZJimmy G@jpn, "Jimmy is right in the first comment here: the city of Chicago, Cook county, and IL are all in...<p>@jpn,</p>
<p>&quot;Jimmy is right in the first comment here: the city of Chicago, Cook county, and IL are all in unsustainable death spirals.&quot;</p>
<p>Do you think Illinois will ever follow the example of other broke blue states and elect a Scott Walker or a Chris Christie?</p>
<p>ZORN REPLY -- I think it&#39;s possible. If Bruce Rauner hits escape velocity through the heavy atmosphere created by base Republican voters and wins the primary, he might be able to harness the mainstream voters who shied, in the end, just barely, from Bill Brady&#39;s social conservatism last time</p>jpn commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02cde5d0970d2013-12-13T15:17:54Z2013-12-13T15:17:54ZjpnThings that make taxpayers feel stupid. Or, at least, that ought to make taxpayers feel stupid. 1. Chicago taxpayers are...<p>Things that make taxpayers feel stupid. Or, at least, that ought to make taxpayers feel stupid.</p>
<p>1. Chicago taxpayers are servicing $100,000,000.00 in bonds that were issued by Chicago Public Schools, to maintain schools that were closed this year.</p>
<p>Souce: Chicago Trib Editorial <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-cps-budget-unsustainable-edit-20131210,0,6432741.story" rel="nofollow">http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-cps-budget-unsustainable-edit-20131210,0,6432741.story</a></p>
<p>2. Chicago taxpayers are servicing another $6,700,000,000.00 in new bonds issued since 2007. And the city is broke.</p>
<p>Source: a Chicago Trib Editorial ON THE SAME DAY <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-beale-finance-edit-1210-20131210,0,171089.story" rel="nofollow">http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-beale-finance-edit-1210-20131210,0,171089.story</a></p>
<p>All this atop the multiple hundreds of millions of debt being serviced, debt issued in 1993 and rolled over so the bonds don&#39;t mature until 2037. And that debt was issued to maintain Cabrini Green, which was torn down in 2003. </p>
<p>Jimmy is right in the first comment here: the city of Chicago, Cook county, and IL are all in unsustainable death spirals. </p>Garry commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02ccd9ce970c2013-12-13T15:08:45Z2013-12-13T15:08:45ZGarry@Jimmy G: "E-cig users are a tough breed," Soon they'll join the rest of the smokers as a cancer filled...<p>@Jimmy G:<br />
&quot;E-cig users are a tough breed,&quot;</p>
<p>Soon they&#39;ll join the rest of the smokers as a cancer filled dead breed!</p>MOPerina commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02ccc4ec970b2013-12-13T14:38:39Z2013-12-13T14:38:39ZMOPerinaFrom the Wall Street Journal, an op-ed piece "A charitable reading suggests that ObamaCare's net enrollment stands at about negative...<p>From the Wall Street Journal, an op-ed piece</p>
<p>&quot;A charitable reading suggests that ObamaCare&#39;s net enrollment stands at about negative four million. That&#39;s the estimated four million to five and a half million people who had their individual health plans liquidated as ObamaCare-noncompliant—offset by the 364,682 who have signed up for a plan on a state or federal exchange and the 803,077 who have been found eligible to receive Medicaid.&quot;</p>
<p>This is basically what I thought would happen. I hope the trend is reversed, but I am not optimistic.</p>
<p>ZORN REPLY -- Thanks, in part, to GOP governors who have refused federal funds for Medicaid expansion. So far. But I think the trend will reverse and you&#39;ll get your wish. The overall looming problem/hard sell is likely to be cost.<br />
All of this is laying the groundwork for a conversion to some kine of modified single-payer system which is cheaper elsewhere and delivers good results.</p>MOPerina commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02cc2e92970c2013-12-13T14:35:21Z2013-12-13T14:35:21ZMOPerinaIcarus... the jury is still out on e-cigs.<p>Icarus... the jury is still out on e-cigs.</p>Dienne commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02ccde3e970d2013-12-13T14:21:49Z2013-12-13T14:21:49ZDienneMick Taylor - I've asked this dozens of times on CoS and no one has been able to give me...<p>Mick Taylor - I&#39;ve asked this dozens of times on CoS and no one has been able to give me an answer - perhaps you&#39;d like to take a shot. What, specifically, would a Republican/conservative mayor be doing differently than Emanuel is doing?</p>Mick Taylor commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02cbee52970d2013-12-13T13:36:11Z2013-12-13T13:36:11ZMick Taylorjlp, he is just not "liberal" enough for you and Dienne.<p>jlp, he is just not &quot;liberal&quot; enough for you and Dienne.</p>Mick Taylor commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02cbd6b9970d2013-12-13T13:31:52Z2013-12-13T13:31:52ZMick TaylorGuess who said it? George Bush ?<p>Guess who said it?<br />
George Bush ?</p>Icarus commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02ca7e33970b2013-12-13T12:50:06Z2013-12-13T12:50:06ZIcarushttp://www.chicagonow.com/adventures-house-huntingNot being a smoker, can someone clue me in...e-cigs: harmful? Harmless? Jury still out on it?<p>Not being a smoker, can someone clue me in...e-cigs: harmful? Harmless? Jury still out on it?</p>Dienne commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02c9753d970b2013-12-13T12:00:43Z2013-12-13T12:00:43ZDienneWhat jlp said.<p>What jlp said.</p>Occam's Razor commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02c8bd35970b2013-12-13T11:27:43Z2013-12-13T11:27:43ZOccam's Razor"E-cig users are a tough breed, Gare." Or just stupid.<p>&quot;E-cig users are a tough breed, Gare.&quot;</p>
<p>Or just stupid. </p>Jimmy G commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02c46fcc970c2013-12-13T06:30:54Z2013-12-13T06:30:54ZJimmy G@Garry, " The National Park Service uses a hot shot of nicotine to kill violent, rogue bears in Yellowstone" E-cig...<p>@Garry,</p>
<p>&quot; The National Park Service uses a hot shot of nicotine to kill violent, rogue bears in Yellowstone&quot;</p>
<p>E-cig users are a tough breed, Gare.</p>Garry commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02c4b3ba970d2013-12-13T05:03:25Z2013-12-13T05:03:25ZGarry@Jimmy G: Dominick's is leaving Illinois because of the incredibly stupid mistakes that Safeway made, not for any other reason....<p>@Jimmy G:<br />
Dominick&#39;s is leaving Illinois because of the incredibly stupid mistakes that Safeway made, not for any other reason.<br />
Such as dumping the bulk candy &amp; nuts immediately after buying Dominick&#39;s.<br />
Safeway came in with all sorts of ideas that work in California &amp; forgot that every neighborhood requires a modification from the standard planogram, which the idiots at Safeway didn&#39;t understand.<br />
Read the comments from Robert Mariano a couple of weeks ago, he understood that when he was the boss of Dominick&#39;s, but Safeway canned him. So he&#39;s returning by buying about a dozen Dominick&#39;s &amp; changing them into Mariano&#39;s, along with the dozen he&#39;s been building on his own.</p>
<p>As for e-cigs, they very definitely do produce poisonous sidestream vapors. Anyone using that drug delivery system is inhaling nicotine, an addictive poison [The National Park Service uses a hot shot of nicotine to kill violent, rogue bears in Yellowstone]. There are other dangerous chemicals in that vapor.<br />
And you breathe that in &amp; exhale it.<br />
Do you actually think that 100% of that crap remains in your lungs &amp; none of it comes out?<br />
If you do, you&#39;re a fool!</p>jlp commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02c41369970d2013-12-13T03:49:30Z2013-12-13T03:49:30Zjlp@ Jimmy G - The funniest part of your comment is your description of Rahm Emanuel as a "liberal".<p>@ Jimmy G -</p>
<p>The funniest part of your comment is your description of Rahm Emanuel as a &quot;liberal&quot;. </p>Jimmy G commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02c3c0b6970d2013-12-13T03:16:35Z2013-12-13T03:16:35ZJimmy G@Barry, Riding a bike with an e-cig might be a little dangerous but smoking an e-cig at a ballgame will...<p>@Barry,</p>
<p>Riding a bike with an e-cig might be a little dangerous but smoking an e-cig at a ballgame will not be allowed, not because it would bother anybody but merely because offends the sensibilities of the guy in power. </p>Barry3 commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02c27357970c2013-12-13T02:35:57Z2013-12-13T02:36:01ZBarry3http://profile.typepad.com/6p019b007110a6970dWendy, Losing a battle is not a the end of something. Jimmy, Do you rhink its OK to have that...<p>Wendy,</p>
<p>Losing a battle is not a the end of something.</p>
<p>Jimmy,</p>
<p>Do you rhink its OK to have that e-cig while riding in a bike lane (a Rahm approved activity)?</p>Jimmy G commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02c2bf51970b2013-12-13T02:08:35Z2013-12-13T02:08:35ZJimmy GRahm Emanuel wants to ban e-cigarettes in public places. They produce no second hand smoke, no odor and no butts...<p>Rahm Emanuel wants to ban e-cigarettes in public places. They produce no second hand smoke, no odor and no butts but even the look of a cigarette is unacceptable to Nanny Emunuel. I have decided that a liberal is a person who sits up at night worrying that someone somewhere might be enjoying himself.</p>Wendy C commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02c20b20970c2013-12-13T01:44:41Z2013-12-13T01:44:41ZWendy CGreat last headline: "Onion " Print Revenues Up 5,000%"<p>Great last headline:</p>
<p>&quot;Onion &quot; Print Revenues Up 5,000%&quot;</p>Edge of the 14th Ward commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02c2ee1a970d2013-12-13T01:34:59Z2013-12-13T01:34:59ZEdge of the 14th WardFascinating story out of Japan about two children (now adults) who were switched at birth. One of the boys was...<p>Fascinating story out of Japan about two children (now adults) who were switched at birth. One of the boys was raised by a wealthy family and went on to become president of a real estate company after attending private high school and university. The other boy was raised by a single mother on welfare and became a truck driver* after dropping out of high school. Score one for nurture, I suppose.</p>
<p>But what&#39;s really interesting about this story is that the man who was raised in poverty sued the hospital where he was born...and won. The hospital was recently ordered to pay him $317,000 for causing &quot;mental distress by depriving him of an opportunity to gain a higher education.&quot;</p>
<p>I&#39;ve never heard of anyone trying to quantify the advantages of being born to a wealthy family, but I&#39;m sure they are staggering. $317,000 for education alone sounds plausible, and I suspect that&#39;s just the tip of the iceberg. Will the settlement help bridge the economic gap between these two men? To an extent, yes, but a) it can&#39;t erase the past, and b) there&#39;s a decent possibility the truck driver will be compelled to spend the money addressing the basic needs of friends and family:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/11/29/247807768/japanese-prince-switched-at-birth-was-raised-a-pauper?ft=1&f=1004" rel="nofollow">http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/11/29/247807768/japanese-prince-switched-at-birth-was-raised-a-pauper?ft=1&amp;f=1004</a></p>
<p>I&#39;m not sure what upward (and downward) mobility looks like in Japan, but it&#39;s certainly trending the wrong way here at home.</p>
<p>* Obviously, there is nothing wrong with being a truck driver, but the man in this story is understandably disappointed with the switch.</p>Wendy C commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02c24380970b2013-12-13T01:08:28Z2013-12-13T01:08:28ZWendy CLooks like the [Tea] Party's over. John Boehner rejects extremists on the right. It took him three years to grow...<p>Looks like the [Tea] Party&#39;s over. John Boehner rejects extremists on the right. It took him three years to grow a spine?</p>Barry3 commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02c223b0970b2013-12-13T00:50:59Z2013-12-13T00:51:00ZBarry3http://profile.typepad.com/6p019b007110a6970dPolitiFact Lie of the Year: "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it" - Guess who said...<p>PolitiFact Lie of the Year:</p>
<p>&quot;If you like your health care plan, you can keep it&quot; - Guess who said it?</p>Jimmy G commented on 'Open thread: The Weeks in Review'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451b4ba69e2019b02c24c9e970d2013-12-13T00:10:55Z2013-12-13T00:10:55ZJimmy GDominicks is going out of business. Office Depot is leaving Illinois and moving to Florida, a state that has no...<p>Dominicks is going out of business. Office Depot is leaving Illinois and moving to Florida, a state that has no income tax. Can the Democrats who run Illinois take a bow? </p>
<p>As a person who owns property in this state, I am really concerned about its future. I believe it is in a death spiral. Taxes go up. Taxpayers leave. Less revenue comes in so taxes have to be raised again. More taxpayers leave.</p>
<p> </p>